News Bits: Sculptor, Zwart, Leftraro, Seven

SculptorSony Pictures has picked up the film rights to Scott McCloud’s recently released graphic novel “The Sculptor,” and have secured Scott Rudin and Josh Bratman as producers.

The story centers on an artist, destitute and living on the streets, who makes a deal with Death: the power to create with his hands. But after 200 days, his time on Earth is up. Art begins to flow from his hands, but complications ensue when he meets the girl of his dreams. [Source: Heat Vision]

Untitled Blumhouse Family Horror TaleHarald Zwart (“The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” “The Karate Kid”) has signed on to direct Blumhouse Productions’ latest micro budgeted horror film, though this one is reportedly being geared toward families. The film presently does not have a title or synopsis available, though Robert Ben Garant (“Jessabelle”) wrote the script and will produce alongside Jason Blum. [Source: THR]

The story deals with a 1553 battle in which Chilean natives defeated the Spanish conquistadors, the natives were led by the titular Leftraro. Leftraro was kidnapped and forced into slavery as a child and learned the ways of the Spanish from the inside before escaping with their secrets of modernized warfare and leading his people to victory. [Source: Variety]

The Seven FiveYann Demange (“’71”) is in final negotiations to take the helm of the high profile cop drama “The Seven Five” at Sony Pictures, a narrative film adaptation of the Tiller Russell-directed documentary.

The story focuses on Michael Dowd, who was arrested in 1992 for leading a ring of dirty cops for the best part of eight years between 1986-1992. Their crimes included theft, abuse and drug dealing. The case exposed widespread corruption in the NYPD. Eli Holzman, John Lesher and Megan Ellison will produce. [Source: Deadline]